Application of Statistical Analysis on the Bubble Surface Area Flux in a Column Flotation Cell

Flotation is a widely used separation process with applications from mineral separation to de-inking of recycled paper, waste water treatment, and solid remediation. In flotation column, bubble surface area flux (S-b) has been reported to describe the gas dispersion properties, and it has a strong correlation with the flotation rate constant. No information is available regarding S-b for coal flotation in column cell. This paper describes the effects of hydrodynamic parameters on S-b by means of a 2(3) factorial experimental design in designed flotation column using coal slurry. The results showed that S-b increased with increasing superficial gas velocity and frother concentration, but decreased with increasing solid concentration. The main and interaction effects of operating parameters on S-b were evaluated using Yates' analysis. The statistical model was developed to predict S-b in column flotation cell using experimental data. This paper also presents the development of the statistical model and the validation using a number of additional data sets. There is a good agreement between experimental results and predicted results from the developed model.